4th Jul 2005, 18:45

This is the author of this review, and I got the problem repaired, it was the intake gasket and starter. The dealer I bought it from fixed it for free, even though I had no warranty. Since then, the car has run great, I would definitly recommend this car.

1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP 3.8 Supercharged V6

Summary:

Faults:

I had to replace the blower motor (somehow water got into the first one).

The tie rod ends have been replaced once, though I suspect this is unremarkable given the number of potholes here in the Northeast.

Brake rotors were replaced twice (once would have been more reasonable, but they are exposed to the elements for looks I guess).

New battery (no surprise here, but it was a bit early in my opinion).

General Comments:

Starting with the good points, this car has been an absolute joy to drive over the last six years. I relish the results I get when I put my foot down, and this car hasn't lost a bit of pep in its old age. The Bose sound system, CD changer, and steering wheel audio controls really do ease the morning commute. I find the sunroof to be a necessity, and I've really come to appreciate the "heads-up" display, which I haven't found on any other model. I find the leather seating quite comfortable on long trips and generally to my liking, though people over 6 feet tall may have headroom issues with the sun roof.

As far as cost to own, I really can't complain. Mileage is in the mid to upper twenties on the highway even though I use a pretty heavy foot. There were a few maintenance items (namely the battery and brake rotors) that I feel gave out early due to quality issues from the factory, but even counting a few hundred extra bucks on maintenance, I feel this car stacks up well against others in its class and would consider buying another some day.

I think I'm a little aggravated by the quality of some of the materials. The little plastic clips that hold the rear door trim on had to be replaced once. I can't understand why a $25K car can't have decent 10-cent plastic thingies to hold the trim on. Not a big deal since you can turn up the radio to drown out the sound until you get around to fixing them, but it seems a bit sloppy.